Each week in the fall, New York Post sports writers Dylan Butler and Joseph Staszewski will attempt to prognosticate the coming CHSFL weekend.
RECORDS AFTER WEEK 1 PLAYOFFS
Butler: 75-19 (Last week: 7-3)
Staszewski: 66-29 (Last week: 7-3)
Here’s Week 2 of the playoffs
No. 2 Fordham Prep @ No. 1 St. Anthony’s, Class AAA semifinals (Friday, 7 p.m.)
Butler: There might not be a wider margin between two 9-0 teams in the Class AAA than this matchup. That’s not to say Fordham Prep can’t win in South Huntington, it’s just that it rarely happens to visiting teams and this game is for a berth in the final, something St. Anthony’s knows a lot about. The Rams will need to play a perfect game against battle-tested St. Anthony’s and even then I’m not sure the Rams can win this one. Pick: St. Anthony’s
Staszewski: If Fordham Prep is looking for validation to their season its will be across the field from them Friday night in South Huntington. The Rams didn’t play the defending champions and unbeaten Friars during their perfect regular season. Fordham Prep, which has been prone to slow starts, is a fine team, but has not been gangbusters. The Friars will take advantage of any little mistake and will prove to be too much and too athletic for Fordham Prep. Pick: St. Anthony’s
No. 5 Holy Trinity @ No. 4 Iona Prep, Class AAA semifinals (Saturday, 1 p.m.)
Staszewski: I’ve told anyone who would ask this postseason that I believe Iona Prep is the only team that can go toe-to-toe with St. Anthony’s. Holy Trinity has had a fine season and looked impressive in a lopsided win over Mount St. Michael in the quarterfinals, but Iona is more explosive and athletic. Like my partner Dylan, I believe the fact that his game is in New Rochelle makes a big defense. A big effort from the Trinity defense keeps it close, but the Gaels prevail. Pick: Iona Prep
Butler: So who gets a second shot at St. Anthony’s? Holy Trinity surely wants to avenge an embarrassing 38-13 home loss in Week 7, while Iona Prep was edged by the Friars in Week 8, 28-20, in New Rochelle. The Gaels also defeated the Titans in Week 2, 31-21. I’m not sure Iona Prep is scoring as many points in the Class AAA semifinals, but as St. Anthony’s coach Rich Reichert said, they are tough to beat at home and that for me is the difference in a game that could need overtime. Pick: Iona Prep
No. 9 Cardinal Hayes @ No. 3 Archbishop Stepinac, Class AA semifinals (Saturday, 1 p.m.)
Butler: Every team wants to be playing their best football in November, and that’s just what C.J. O’Neill has the Cardinals doing. Led by athletically-gifted wide receiver Abraham Ocasio, Hayes defeated Monsignor Farrell at the Lions Den in the quarterfinals for a second straight year and now faces the lions of Class AA. Stepinac has feasted on ‘AA’ competition this year and made short work of Class AAA whipping boys St. Francis Prep in the quarters. In White Plains in Week 3, Stepinac had a huge second half to beat Hayes, 35-18, but the Cardinals did turn the Crusaders over. They’ll need to do a lot more of that Saturday to pull off the upset of upsets. Pick: Archbishop Stepinac
Staszewski: There may not have been a Class AA team that gave Stepinac all it could handle more than Hayes. The Cardinals, who were inconsistent during the regular season, finally put it together in a win over Farrell in the quarterfinals. Athletes like wide receiver Abraham Ocasio, running back Donald Thomas and linebacker Kirk Williams are some of the seasons why Hayes can hang around. Winning is a different story. Tyrell Goodman, Donnie Simmons and Co. won’t beat themselves and neither will the Cardinals. Pick: Archbishop Stepinac
St. Peter’s @ St. John the Baptist, Class A final (Saturday, 1 p.m.)
Staszewski: The Eagles will get a chance to defend their Class A title, but won’t be taking the trophy back to Staten Island with them. Derrelle Hunter ran for four touchdowns and 297 yards as the Cougars scored 25 second-half points to rally for a Week 6 win. St. Peter’s can win is quarterback Dan Low has a big game, like he did in wins over Cardinal Hayes and Bishop Ford last week, doing that in front of a packed house in West Islip will not be easy. Pick: St. John the Baptist.
Butler: There’s been no more prolific rusher in the CHSFL this year than Derelle Hunter, who has gained 2,087 yards this season with 20 touchdowns and has 889 return yards and four more scores. On Saturday, in front of what should be a huge home crowd, the senior, who has drawn interest from Rutgers, Temple and Syracuse will cap his storied career at St. John the Baptist with the Class A title. Pick: St. John the Baptist
Chaminade @ Kellenberg, Class AA semifinals @ Denton Ave. Field (Saturday, 4:30 p.m.)
Butler: Kellenberg defeated Chaminade for the first time in its history in Week 1, beating the Flyers on Tim Wienclaw’s overtime field goal. That loss served as a precursor for proud Chaminade, which went winless during the regular season. But Stephen Boyd’s squad got off the schneid in a big way with a 38-14 thrashing of surging Xavier in the Class AA quarterfinals. That win, combined with the added incentive of avenging the season-opening loss will catapult Chaminade into the Class AA final and a date with Archbishop Stepinac. Pick: Chaminade
Staszewski: I’ve watched the Flyers play three times this season and never did I walk away impressed. I admire their fight the last three games and commend them on the win over Xavier, but a Class AA final appearance in not in the cards. The Firebirds have already beaten the Flyers. Quarterback Nick Fiore and wideout Tim Wienclaw have formed quite a duo when big plays need to be made. The will make plenty of them and the defense will just do enought against the Flyers attack to pull out win. Pick: Kellenberg.